BEIJING—Year-old GCA Technik, eager to exploit Chinese aviation growth, is on the verge of expansion that will roughly double its workforce over the next three years. The former maintenance department of Hainan Airlines is planning, or is evaluating, a plethora of new and expanded product lines: maintenance for engines, components and business jets; training for technicians; painting of narrowbody aircraft; and more hangar space for heavy airframe maintenance.

BEIJING — A Venezuelan order for Y-8 airlifters from Avic Aircraft has been cut to eight units from 12, although it still represents the largest export contract so far for the type, a Chinese development of the Antonov An-12. A banner at a signing ceremony shows that Venezuela has ordered the Y-8F-200, the civil derivative of the Y-8C, which was the first fully pressurized version of the aircraft. The Y-8 is about the same size as the Lockheed Martin C-130 Hercules.

BEIJING — China has renewed its polar-orbiting weather satellite group with the in-orbit verification of the Fengyun 3B. With the satellite now going into service alongside sibling Fengyun 3A, China will have a global observation interval of 6 hr., down from 12 previously. Fengyun 3B was subject to half a year of in-orbit checkouts after its Nov. 5 launch.